Adaptable Stopper

ABSTRACT

An adaptable stopper for closing bottles, namely bottles for spirits, distillates, or wine is disclosed which has a base part with a conical part of the stopper and a head part having a basic outer dimension that is at least equal to or bigger than the outer dimension of the neck of a bottle the stopper is to be used with. The base part and the head part may be connected in a manner that allows them to be mechanically detachable from each other. The base part and the head part may be of circular, elliptical, or angular shape, and may be made of a glass, wood, plastic, or metal material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Czech Republic Utility ModelApplication No. 2015-31668, which was filed on Oct. 20, 2015, and whichCzech Republic utility model application is hereby incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to to a stopper for closingbottles, namely bottles for spirits, distillates, or wine.

Known stoppers have the disadvantage that the stopper is formed by ahead part and further from a conical part of the stopper, which arefixedly and permanently connected.

It will thus be appreciated that there is a need for an adaptablestopper which have a head part that is attachable to and detachable fromthe base part of the stopper.

The subject matter discussed in this background of the invention sectionshould not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mentionin the background of the invention section. Similarly, a problemmentioned in the background of the invention section or associated withthe subject matter of the background of the invention section should notbe assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. Thesubject matter in the background of the invention section merelyrepresents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also beinventions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages and limitations of the background art discussed aboveare overcome by the present invention. With this invention, a glassstopper for closing bottles, such as for example bottles for spirits,distillates, or wine, which bottles have a circular or non-circularshaped mouth in the neck of the bottle, is provided which stopper has abase part with a conical part of the stopper and a head part having abasic outer dimension that is at least equal to or bigger than the outerdimension of the neck of the bottle. While these two stopper parts maybe fixedly connected using an adhesive or glue material, they mayinstead advantageously be connected in a manner that allows them to bemechanically detachable from each other.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the head part, theouter dimension of which may be equal to or greater than the outerdimension of the mouth of the bottle, may be of any shape. The presentinvention thus enables different design solutions for the shape of thebottle and the stopper. The conical part of the stopper is typicallyused with an adaptable sealing element that is mounted on the base partof the stopper to effect a seal. A transport securing element is alsoused to retain the stopper in a sealing position in the neck of thebottle, with examples of suitable the transport sealing elements beingthermally-shrinkable capsules, wire stopper fasteners, or other coatingsor bandages.

While in a typical embodiment the invention is directed to closingbottles of distilled spirits, it will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that the present invention may also be used for a stopper forother liquids, such as those for which the material of the bottle, thestopper, and the sealing element must be chemically resistant.

The solution of the stopper of the present invention provides thenecessary functional safety and repeatability of the sealing effects inbeverage bottles for distilled spirits, as well as in bottles intendedfor other liquids, or optionally for bulk or powdery materials.

The solution according to the present invention is within the meaningmentioned above applicable for both glass and non-glass materials foreither or both of the stopper and the bottle.

In an apparatus embodiment, an adaptable stopper for closing bottlesincludes: a base part having a conical part with a head portion mountedthereon; and a head part having a recess located therein which isconfigured to receive the head portion of the base part, wherein thehead part is arranged to have a basic outer dimension that is greaterthan or equal to an outer dimension of a bottle neck of a bottle intowhich the adaptable stopper may be inserted.

In another apparatus embodiment, an adaptable stopper for closingbottles includes: a base part having a conical part with a head portionmounted thereon; and a head part having a recess located therein whichis configured to receive the head portion of the base part, wherein thehead part is arranged to have a basic outer dimension that is greaterthan or equal to an outer dimension of a bottle neck of a bottle intowhich the adaptable stopper may be inserted; wherein the head portion ofthe base part and the recess in the head part are respectively arrangedand configured to mechanically engage each other when the head portionof the base part is inserted into the recess in the head part todetachably retain the base part in the head part.

The stopper of the present invention thus advantageously provides a headpart that is attachable to and detachable from the base part of thestopper. Finally, the stopper of the present invention achieves numerousadvantages without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the present invention are best understoodwith reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a first embodiment base partof a stopper with a head part that is approximately as wide as the neckof a bottle into which the stopper may be inserted;

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the first embodiment basepart of a stopper illustrated in FIG. 1 with a head part that issubstantially wider than the neck of a bottle into which the stopper maybe inserted;

FIG. 3 is a is a partially cutaway side view of a second embodiment basepart of a stopper with a head part that is approximately as wide as theneck of a bottle into which the stopper may be inserted; and

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the second embodiment basepart of a stopper illustrated in FIG. 3 with a head part that issubstantially wider than the neck of a bottle into which the stopper maybe inserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

An exemplary embodiment of the stopper of the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 1, which shows a base part 10 having a conical part12 with a head portion 14 mounted thereon, with a fixing groove locatedintermediate the conical part 12 of the base part 10 and the headportion 14 of the base part 10. (When the stopper is used, the fixinggroove 16 will have an adaptable sealing element not forming part of thepresent invention mounted thereon.) The base part 10 may be made ofglass or any other suitable material.

The base part 10 of the stopper illustrated in FIG. 1 has a head part 18mounted thereupon. The head part 18 is approximately as wide as the neckof a bottle into which the stopper shown in FIG. 1 may be inserted. Thehead part 18 has a recess 20 located therein which will receive the headportion 14 of the base part 10. The base part 10 may be secured to thehead part 18 by adhesive if desired, or it may use an interference fitto allow the head part 18 to be detached from the base part 10. The headpart 18 may be made of any suitable material, and may be made of amaterial that is different from the material of the base part 10.

Referring next to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the stopper of thepresent invention is illustrated in which the same base part 10 of thestopper that is also shown in FIG. 1 has a head part 22 mountedthereupon. The head part 22 is substantially wider than the neck of abottle into which the stopper shown in FIG. 2 may be inserted. The headpart 22 has a recess 24 located therein which will receive the headportion 14 of the base part 10. The base part 10 may be secured to thehead part 22 by adhesive if desired, or it may use an interference fitto allow the head part 22 to be detached from the base part 10. The headpart 22 may be made of any suitable material, and may be made of amaterial that is different from the material of the base part 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a base part 30 has a conical part 32 with ahead portion 34 mounted thereon. The head portion 34 of the base part 30has an outwardly extending flange portion 36 located at the top thereof,and a rounded portion 38 at its outer periphery at the bottom thereof.The base part 30 has a fixing groove 40 located intermediate the conicalpart 12 of the base part 10 and the head portion 14 of the base part 10.The base part 10 may be made of glass or any other suitable material.

The base part 30 of the stopper illustrated in FIG. 3 has a head part 42mounted thereupon. The head part 42 is approximately as wide as the neckof a bottle into which the stopper shown in FIG. 3 may be inserted. Thehead part 42 has a recess 44 located therein which will receive the headportion 34 of the base part 30. The recess 44 in the head part 42 has anoutwardly extending groove 46 located therein at the top of the recess44, and a rounded inwardly extending lip 48 located therein at thebottom of the recess 44. The head part 42 may be made of any suitablematerial with sufficient flexibility to allow the head portion 34 of thebase part 30 to be inserted into the recess 44 in the head part 42, andmay be made of a material that is different from the material of thebase part 30.

The base part 30 is mounted to the head part 42 by inserting the headportion 34 of the base part 30 into the recess 44 in the head part 42.It may be seen that the flange portion 36 of the head portion 34 of thebase part 30 engages the groove 46 in the head part 42, and that the lip48 in the head part 42 engages the rounded portion 38 of the headportion 34 of the base part 30. Preferably, the material that the headpart 42 is made of is sufficiently flexible to advantageously allow thehead portion 34 of the base part 30 to be detached from the recess 44 inthe head part 42 to separate the head part 42 from the base part 30.

Referring next to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the stopper of thepresent invention is illustrated in which the same base part 30 of thestopper that is also shown in FIG. 3 has a head part 50 mountedthereupon. The head part 50 is substantially wider than the neck of abottle into which the stopper shown in FIG. 4 may be inserted. The headpart 50 has a recess 52 located therein which will receive the headportion 34 of the base part 30. The recess 52 in the head part 50 has anoutwardly extending groove 54 located therein at the top of the recess52, and a rounded inwardly extending lip 56 located therein at thebottom of the recess 52. The head part 50 may be made of any suitablematerial with sufficient flexibility to allow the head portion 34 of thebase part 30 to be inserted into the recess 52 in the head part 50, andmay be made of a material that is different from the material of thebase part 30.

The base part 30 is mounted to the head part 50 by inserting the headportion 34 of the base part 30 into the recess 52 in the head part 50.It may be seen that the flange portion 36 of the head portion 34 of thebase part 30 engages the groove 54 in the head part 50, and that the lip56 in the head part 50 engages the rounded portion 38 of the headportion 34 of the base part 30. Preferably, the material that the headpart 50 is made of is sufficiently flexible to advantageously allow thehead portion 34 of the base part 30 to be detached from the recess 52 inthe head part 50 to separate the head part 50 from the base part 30.

It may therefore be appreciated from the above detailed description ofthe stopper of the present invention that it advantageously provides ahead part that is attachable to and detachable from the base part of thestopper. Finally, the stopper of the present invention achieves numerousadvantages without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

Although the foregoing description of the present invention has beenshown and described with reference to particular embodiments andapplications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustrationand description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. Itwill be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a numberof changes, modifications, variations, or alterations to the inventionas described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit orscope of the present invention. The particular embodiments andapplications were chosen and described to provide the best illustrationof the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the inventionin various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications,variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within thescope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims wheninterpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly,legally, and equitably entitled.

While the current application recites particular combinations offeatures in the claims appended hereto, various embodiments of theinvention relate to any combination of any of the features describedherein whether or not such combination is currently claimed, and anysuch combination of features may be claimed in this or futureapplications. Any of the features, elements, or components of any of theexemplary embodiments discussed above may be claimed alone or incombination with any of the features, elements, or components of any ofthe other embodiments discussed above.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adaptable stopper for closing bottles,comprising: a base part having a conical part with a head portionmounted thereon; and a head part having a recess located therein whichis configured to receive the head portion of the base part, wherein thehead part is arranged to have a basic outer dimension that is greaterthan or equal to an outer dimension of a bottle neck of a bottle intowhich the adaptable stopper may be inserted.
 2. An adaptable stopper asdefined in claim 1, wherein the head part is arranged to have a basicouter dimension that is substantially greater than an outer dimension ofa bottle neck of a bottle into which the adaptable stopper may beinserted.
 3. An adaptable stopper as defined in claim 1, wherein thehead portion of the base part is secured in the recess in the head partby an adhesive.
 4. An adaptable stopper as defined in claim 1, whereinthe head portion of the base part is secured in the recess in the headpart by an interference fit.
 5. An adaptable stopper as defined in claim1, wherein that the base part and the head part are of circular,elliptical, or angular shape.
 6. An adaptable stopper as defined inclaim 1, wherein that the base part and the head part are each made of aglass, wood, plastic, or metal material, wherein the material that thebase part is made of is optionally different from the material that thehead part is made of.
 7. An adaptable stopper as defined in claim 1,wherein the head portion of the base part has an outwardly extendingflange portion located therein; and wherein the recess in the head parthas an outwardly extending groove located therein; and wherein theflange portion in the head portion of the base part and the groove inthe recess in the head part are respectively configured to mechanicallyengage each other when the head portion of the base part is insertedinto the recess in the head part to detachably retain the base part inthe head part.
 8. An adaptable stopper as defined in claim 7, whereinthe outwardly extending flange portion in the head portion of the basepart is located at the top of the head portion of the base part; andwherein the outwardly extending groove in the recess in the head part islocated therein at the top of the recess in the head part.
 9. Anadaptable stopper as defined in claim 1, wherein the head portion of thebase part has a rounded portion at its outer periphery at the bottomthereof; and wherein the recess in the head part has a rounded inwardlyextending lip located therein at the bottom of the recess; and whereinthe rounded portion in the head portion of the base part and the roundedinwardly extending lip in the recess in the head part are respectivelyconfigured to mechanically engage each other when the head portion ofthe base part is inserted into the recess in the head part to detachablyretain the base part in the head part.
 10. An adaptable stopper forclosing bottles, comprising: a base part having a conical part with ahead portion mounted thereon; and a head part having a recess locatedtherein which is configured to receive the head portion of the basepart, wherein the head part is arranged to have a basic outer dimensionthat is greater than or equal to an outer dimension of a bottle neck ofa bottle into which the adaptable stopper may be inserted; wherein thehead portion of the base part and the recess in the head part arerespectively arranged and configured to mechanically engage each otherwhen the head portion of the base part is inserted into the recess inthe head part to detachably retain the base part in the head part. 11.An adaptable stopper as defined in claim 10, wherein the head part isarranged to have a basic outer dimension that is substantially greaterthan an outer dimension of a bottle neck of a bottle into which theadaptable stopper may be inserted.
 12. An adaptable stopper as definedin claim 10, wherein that the base part and the head part are ofcircular, elliptical, or angular shape.
 13. An adaptable stopper asdefined in claim 10, wherein that the base part and the head part areeach made of a glass, wood, plastic, or metal material, wherein thematerial that the base part is made of is optionally different from thematerial that the head part is made of.
 14. An adaptable stopper asdefined in claim 10, wherein the head portion of the base part has anoutwardly extending flange portion located therein; and wherein therecess in the head part has an outwardly extending groove locatedtherein; and wherein the flange portion in the head portion of the basepart and the groove in the recess in the head part are respectivelyconfigured to mechanically engage each other when the head portion ofthe base part is inserted into the recess in the head part to detachablyretain the base part in the head part.
 15. An adaptable stopper asdefined in claim 14, wherein the outwardly extending flange portion inthe head portion of the base part is located at the top of the headportion of the base part; and wherein the outwardly extending groove inthe recess in the head part is located therein at the top of the recessin the head part.
 16. An adaptable stopper as defined in claim 10,wherein the head portion of the base part has a rounded portion at itsouter periphery at the bottom thereof; and wherein the recess in thehead part has a rounded inwardly extending lip located therein at thebottom of the recess; and wherein the rounded portion in the headportion of the base part and the rounded inwardly extending lip in therecess in the head part are respectively configured to mechanicallyengage each other when the head portion of the base part is insertedinto the recess in the head part to detachably retain the base part inthe head part.